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<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Two students at a Florida middle school, &#8216;plotted Columbine-style mass shooting,&#8217; police said </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Investigators found that<strong> Phillip Byrd, 14 and Connor Pruett, 13</strong> and had amassed guns, ammo and knives&#8217;: Crying mom tells judge &#8216;He&#8217;s just a little boy&#8217; </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Byrd and Pruett, both eighth-grade students at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, near Fort Myers, <strong>were detained on Thursday for a mental health evaluation and taken into custody on Saturday</strong></strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>They<strong> appeared in front of a judge on Sunday morning to face charges relating to attempting to carry out a mass shooting mirroring the 1999 Columbine school massacre </strong></strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong><strong><strong>Tip-off from a fellow student led to a discovery of map of the school with markings on it showing the school&#8217;s security cameras and other &#8216;disturbing evidence&#8217; including guns and several knives found at the suspects&#8217; homes</strong></strong></strong> </h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Sherriff said pair were &#8216;extensively studying&#8217; Columbine High School shooting</strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Byrd’s mother Carrie Tuller broke down in tears during the court hearing and said, <strong>“</strong> He’s just a little boy&#8221; </strong><br><strong>“He didn’t think this was really serious. He didn’t think they were serious” </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Byrd and Connor Pruett will be held for 21 days in a juvenile detention center for an alleged mass shooting plot </strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>Their next court date is for Sept. 27</strong></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-color has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading" style="color:#554b4b"><strong>The teens are ‘well known’ to police as deputies had responded to calls to their homes nearly 80 times combined </strong> </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-left-and-Phillip-Byrd-right-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389438"/><figcaption> <strong> Two eight-graders at at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, in Lee County &#8211; Connor Pruett, 13, [left] and Phillip Byrd, 14, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a mass shooting at their school. Authorities were tipped off by fellow students</strong> </figcaption></figure>



<p>Two boys at a Florida middle school,, aged 14 and 13, have been ordered to remain at a juvenile detention center after allegedly planning to carry out a mass shooting mirroring the 1999 Columbine school massacre.<br>Phillip Byrd, 14, and Connor Pruett, 13, both eighth-grade students at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, near Fort Myers, appeared in front of a judge on Sunday morning. <br>The judge ordered the two to be held for at least 21 days in a juvenile detention center. <br>School administration took the potential threat seriously when they found Byrd and Pruett with a map of the school marked up to show each of its security cameras. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Phillip-Byrd-left-and-Connor-Pruett-right-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389380" width="843" height="700"/><figcaption> <strong>Eighth-graders Phillip Byrd, 14, [left in white shirt] and Connor Pruett, 13, [right, in green shirt] being transferred to the Lee County jail, were detained on Thursday for a mental health evaluation and taken into custody on Saturday. The duo will be held for 21 days in a juvenile detention center</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>After alerting Lee County police, detectives discovered that the boys were thoroughly studying the Columbine shooting.<br>Further establishing the likely intent, investigators discovered he the duo were attempting to learn how to build a pipe bomb and researching how to buy guns on the black market. <br>Police also searched the boys’ homes and found guns, ammunition and several knives. <br>But Byrd’s mother Carrie Tuller broke down in tears as she defended her son in court on Sunday. <br>‘He’s just a little boy,’ she said. ‘He didn’t think this was really serious. He didn’t think they were serious.’ Teens accused of plotting &#8216;Columbine&#8217; are held at juvenile center </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-left-and-Phillip-Byrd-right-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389397"/><figcaption><strong><strong><strong><strong>Connor Pruett</strong></strong></strong></strong> <strong><strong>[left], and </strong> <strong><strong>Phillip Byrd, </strong></strong>[right] appeared in front of a judge on Sunday morning to face charges relating to attempting to carry out a mass shooting mirroring the 1999 Columbine massacre</strong>.</figcaption></figure>



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</div><figcaption><strong>Police investigating Connor Pruett and Phillip Byrd arrive at one of the boys&#8217; home to execute a search warrant</strong> </figcaption></figure>



<p>Connor Pruett, 13,and Phillip Byrd, 14, who are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a mass shooting, were detained on Thursday for a mental health evaluation and taken into custody on Saturday. <br>They are being charged with conspiracy to commit a mass shooting. <br>Both were ordered to have no contact with school staff or students and required to stay off school grounds. <br>They will remain at a juvenile detention facility and their next court date is Sept. 27 at 9am, local news station <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.winknews.com/2021/09/12/teens-accused-of-threatening-swfl-school-face-judge/">WINK</a>, reports.<br>Following the boys’ arrest, Lee County Superintendent Kenneth Savage tweeted: ‘To the heroes @HarnsMarshMS, THANK YOU! <br>&#8216;Your actions saved lives and for that @LeeSchools are forever grateful. All honor to @SheriffLeeFL and staff-students that intervened.’ </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sheriffs-arrest-Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389402" width="844" height="458"/><figcaption><strong> <strong>Deputies arrive to search one suspect&#8217;s family home</strong>, [photo].</strong> <strong>Tip-off from a fellow student led to a discovery of map of the school with markings on it showing the school&#8217;s security cameras and other &#8216;disturbing evidence&#8217; including guns and several knives found at the suspects&#8217; homes. </strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-weapons-stash-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389420" width="841" height="463"/><figcaption><strong>Sharing images of of the arsenal investigators <strong>allegedly found at the students&#8217; homes</strong>, Sherriff Marceno said that he is certain that police intervention prevented another deadly school shooting from taking place. </strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-weapons-stash-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389428" width="848" height="521"/><figcaption><strong>The conspirators not only had firearms. They also had knives allegedly found by police during a search at the two homes</strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-weapons-stash-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389425"/><figcaption><strong>Some of the guns [L-R], allegedly found at the students&#8217; homes </strong></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-weapons-stash-6.png" alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Connor-Pruett-and-Phillip-Byrd-weapons-stash-6.png" width="840" height="453"/><figcaption><strong>The scope of the potential threat is evidenced by these boxes of ammunition allegedly, found at one of the boys&#8217; homes</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said legal investigations will be looking into a risk protection order, which restricts access to firearm for those who pose a danger to themselves or others. <br>The alleged mass shooting plot was uncovered after students tipped off an eight-grade teacher on Wednesday, claiming that one of their classmates had a gun in their book bag.<br>The school resource officer and administration were alerted to the potential threat which led to an investigation by Lee County sheriff&#8217;s deputies. </p>



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<p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Lee County Sheriff <strong>Carmine Marceno</strong> </strong> <strong>gives statement following student in possession of gun. Sheriff Marceno said the students took an interest in the Columbine High School shooting and were &#8216;extensively studying&#8217; the incident.</strong></p>



<p>While the search didn&#8217;t lead to discovery of a weapon in the student&#8217;s book bag, investigators found a map of the school showing the location of all security cameras in the building.<br>Sheriff Marceno said police also discovered other &#8216;disturbing evidence&#8217; following a search at the suspects&#8217; homes including guns, ammunition and several knives. <br>In a news conference, Sheriff Marceno said: &#8216;Detectives learned the students took an interest in the Columbine High School shooting.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Harns-Marsh-Middle-School-in-Lehigh-Acres-Florida-1.jpg" alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Harns-Marsh-Middle-School-in-Lehigh-Acres-Florida-1.jpg" width="833" height="535"/><figcaption><strong>The middle school students were allegedly planning a mass shooting at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres,</strong> <strong>Florida [photo]</strong> </figcaption></figure>



<p>&#8216;They were extensively studying to learn more about the incident and the shooters. <br>&#8216;Detectives also learned the students were attempting to learn how to construct pipe bombs and how to purchase firearms on the black market.&#8217; <br>The Columbine High School massacre was a school shooting and attempted bombing that occurred on April 20, 1999, in Columbine, Colorado. <br>https://www.facebook.com/sheriffleefl/videos/808844933119021<br>The two shooters, twelfth-grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, aged 18 and 17, murdered 12 students and one teacher and then subsequently committed suicide.<br>It was the deadliest mass shooting at a US high school until 2018 when 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, approximately 120 miles away.</p>



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</div><figcaption><strong>Lee County, Florida Sheriff Carmine Marceno, search the home of the second teen&#8217;s accused in the school mass shooting plot</strong></figcaption></figure>



<p>Sheriff Marceno said that he is certain that police intervention prevented another deadly school shooting from taking place, saying: &#8216;This could have turned disastrous. We were one second away from a Columbine here.&#8217;<br>He continued: &#8216;I&#8217;m certain that my team of dedicated deputies and detectives acted promptly, investigated thoroughly and prevented a very violent and dangerous act from being carried out.<br>&#8216;This could have been the next Parkland massacre, but we stopped them in the planning stages.&#8217;<br>The sheriff said the two middle school students are &#8216;well known&#8217; to police as deputies had responded to calls to their homes nearly 80 times combined.<br>At Sunday&#8217;s hearing the judge said he believed the two teens committed a juvenile act. <br>Phillip Byrd’s mother, Carrie Tuller, who was present in court, defended her son. <br>He’s just a little boy,” Tuller said. “He didn’t think this was really serious. He didn’t think they were serious.” <br>The sheriff said legal investigators will be looking into a risk protection order, which restricts access to firearms for those who pose a danger to themselves or others.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kenneth-Savage-tweet-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389411" width="645" height="200"/><figcaption> <strong>Following the boys’ arrest, Lee County Superintendent Kenneth Savage tweeted his thanks to the police who foiled the alleged mass shooting plo</strong>t </figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Max-Schachter-tweet-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-389409"/><figcaption><strong> Max Schachter, whose son Alex was 14 when he was murdered in the 2018 Parkland shooting, also commended the police in a tweet</strong></figcaption></figure>



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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="exatQoykkh"><a href="https://winknews.com/2021/09/12/teens-accused-of-threatening-swfl-school-face-judge/">Teens accused of threatening SWFL school face judge</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Teens accused of threatening SWFL school face judge&#8221; &#8212; WINK News" src="https://winknews.com/2021/09/12/teens-accused-of-threatening-swfl-school-face-judge/embed/#?secret=TThXWjsL57#?secret=exatQoykkh" data-secret="exatQoykkh" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>At the news conference on Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage thanked Sherriff Marceno and his team for their &#8216;quick response and actions to protect our students and staff.&#8217; <br>&#8216;As soon as students reported the potential threat, the teacher notified administrators, who immediately brought in the school resource officer,&#8217; he said. <br>&#8216;Together they emptied the classroom and investigated. Students were safe at all times.&#8217; <br>He continued: &#8216;I commend the students who came forward to report the potential threat and the quick action by our staff and SROs to prevent harm to our campus.&#8217; </p>

Florida middle school students, 14 and 13, charged after plotting ‘Columbine-style mass shooting and had amassed arsenal of guns, ammo, knives and map of school’; 14-year-old’s crying mom tells judge ‘He’s just a little boy’
